Illinois courthouses
Subtitle: an illustrated history
By: Dennis Weiser
Publisher: Donning Co. Publishers
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Virginia Beach, VA
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9781578646012
Description: In "Illinois An Illustrated History" photojournalist Dennis Weiser has skillfully woven this original material into a compelling narrative, creating a truly phenomenal oral and photographic history of the 102 courthouses in Illinois. This handsomely illustrated volume is both an entertaining, colorful history of Illinois' county government and a valuable reference work. Especially noteworthy are accounts of the earliest structures, including one with a dirt floor, another with noisy, odiferous hogs occupying the crawl space beneath it, another which collapsed during construction (killing nine people), and still another which was supposed to be fireproof but burned to the ground. Also of special interest are the focus on classic architecture and the courthouses on the old Eighth Judicial Circuit, which Abraham Lincoln and his fellow attorneys traversed for many years. The stories recounted in "Illinois An Illustrated History" are filled with drama, humor, triumph and tragedy. This book is a great gift for historians, architects, attorneys, political leaders, professors and students. This volume is a welcome addition to the literature of both Illinois history in general and of Abraham Lincoln in particular.